US2627320A - Lubricating system - Google Patents

Description

L. C. ROTTER LUBRICATING SYSTEM Feb. 3, 1953 Filed Sept. 7. 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEETV 1 Patented Feb. 3, 1953 LUBRICATING SYSTEM Lutwin C. Rotter, Maplewood, Mo., assignor to Lincoln Engineering Company, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of, Missouri Application September 7, 1950, SerialNo. 183,630

6 Claims.

This invention relates to lubricating systems and, more particularly, to automatic force-feed lubricating systems for dispensing lubricant under pressure. It is an improvement upon the system disclosed in the ccpending coassigned application of Carl H. Mueller and Rudy F. Schneller, Serial No. 754,148, filed June 12, 1947.

Among the several objects of the invention may be noted the provision of a force-feed lubrieating system for cyclically-operated apparatus requiring lubrication in accordance with the frequency of its use adapted automatically to lubricate the apparatus upon the occurrence of a number of cycles of operation of the apparatus; the provision of a lubricating system of the class described which may be adjusted to lubricate the apparatus in response to the operation of the apparatus through different numbers of cycles, including one cycle; and the provision of a lubricating system of this class which may be operated from the apparatus to be lubricated so as not to require any outside source of power. The system of this invention differs from that disclosed in the above-mentioned copending application in that where the latter system is operable only to lubricate upon each operation of the apparatus through. one cycle, the system of this invention may be used to lubricate in response to operation of the apparatus through different numbers of cycles, including one cycle.

In general, a lubricating system of my invention comprises a reciprocating means for actuating the apparatus to. be lubricated through a cycle, it being understood that the invention is applicable to apparatus which is operable in cy cles, and that operation of the reciprocating means through one complete cycle effects operation of the apparatus through one cycle. A reciprocating lubricant pump is provided for supplying lubricant to and actuating one or more lubricant injectors of a type which operate upon being supplied with lubricant under a predetermined injector-cycling pressure to inject a charge of lubricant, and which require relief of pressure to reset and reload with another charge. The pump is actuated by means operable in response to each operation of the apparatus through one cycle for reciprocating the pump through one complete cycle. The stroke of the pump is controlled by a means which may be adjusted, to set the pump to have different lengths of stroke. A check valve is provided to check flow of lubricant from the injector or injectors back to the pump upon a return stroke of the pump and is adapted to open upon a pressure stroke of the pump. Relieving action to allow for resetting and reloading of the injector or injectors is provided for by having means for relieving pressure at a point between the check valve and the injector or injectors which functions subsequent. to actuation of the injector 0r, injectors to vent the system to allow the injector or injectors. to reset and reload. With this arrangement, each time the apparatus, is operated through one cycle, the pump is reciprocated through one cycle. By appropriate adjustment of the means controlling the stroke of thepump, the operation of the pump may be so regulated as to require a predetermined number of cycles of the pump before sufficient pressure is built up to actuate the injector or injectors. Other features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the elements and combinations of elements, features of construction, and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the structures hereinafter described, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which one of various possible embodiments of the invention is illustrated,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a, lubricating system of this invention, parts being broken away and shown in section;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal section of a control valve taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal longitudinal section of the control valve taken on line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section of a. vent valve;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section of a lubricant injector; and,

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical section illustrating a check valve.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts through the several, views of the drawings.

Mobile e uipment for handling materials, such as coal loading, mining, earth moving equipment and the like, requires frequent lubrication of its bearings and other elements to prevent undue wear. Equipment of this type generally includes a single-cycle actuator for operating such apparatus as a movable ramp or conveyor, a scraper blade, etc. This actuator operates. through single cycles wherein parts of such apparatus are moved from initial positions to other positions, then returned to the initial position. This invention provides a lubricating system which can be set to function in response to operation, of such apparatus through a desired number of cycles, for example, one, two, three or a higher number of cycles, to deliver measured charges of lubricant to the bearings or other elements requiring lubrication. Thus, the frequency of lubrication is determined by the frequency of operation or the apparatus to be lubricated, and the frequency of lubrication may either be the same as the frequency of lubrication is half the frequency of' operation of the apparatus.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 1, there is 7 shown a hydraulic motor I for actuating any desired apparatus, such as a boom or the like (not shown). Motor l is controlled by a fourway valve 3. Another hydraulic motor is connected in parallel with motor I so that both motors, are operated simultaneously throu h one stroke upon actuation of the valve. Motor 5 drives a lubricant pump 1 which rece ves lubricant from a reservoir 9 and pumps it to a lubricant injector manifold II for delivery to a plurality of lubricant injectors 13. Each injector l3 measures out a charge of lubricant and delivers it through a suitable lubricant line to a bearing or other element of the ap aratus to be lubr cated.

As illustrated, motor is an exnansible chamber fluid motor comprising a cylinder l5 having a piston (not shown). The piston rod E5 of the motor is provided with a clevis IT by meansof which it is coupled to the apparatus to be actuatedi Pressure fluid is supplied to or vented from opposite ends of the cylinder through lines l9 and 2| under control of valve 3.

As illustrated particularly in Figs. 2 and 3, valve In a manually controlled reci rocating valve comprising a valve block 23 longitudinally bored to provide a cylinder 25 and counterbored to provide chamberszland 28 at the ends of the cylinder. Lines l9 and 2! are connected to the valve ports {H and '33, which are in communication with the valve cylinder 25 at axially spaced positions. The valve block is-also bored to provide an inlet-port 35, from which passages 31! and 89 lead to chambers 21 and 29, respectively. and an outlet port 4! in. communication with valve cylinder 25 at aposition intermediate ports 3i and 33.- Asupply line 43 for pressure fluid from any suitable source is connectedinto inlet port 35. A return line 45, for returning spent fluid to its source, is connected into outlet port at.

. A-valve piston provided with axially spaced lands 49 and 5! reciprocates in-valve cylinder 25. -A piston rod 53 extends from one end of the piston through chamber 29 and through an end head 55 for the valve block 23; A stem 51 extends from the otherendof the piston through chamber 21 and through an end head 59 for the other end of the block. Packing rings 5! and $3 in sealing engagement with the stem and piston rod provide seals for the chambers. The end heads are suitably mounted upon a supporting bracket 65. An operating lever 61, for reciprocating valve piston 41, is pivoted on the end head 55 at 69 and linked to the piston rod 53 at 1 I.

.Fluid under pressure is supplied through supply line.43, valve inlet port 35 and passages 3'! and 39 to chambers 27 and 29. With the valve piston 41 in the position of Figs. 2 and 3, operating lever being in its outermost position, communication is established from chamber 2i through cylinder 25 to line 2! to supply pressure fluid to the right end of cylinder l5, as viewed in Fig. 1. Communication from chamber 29 is blocked by land 5|. The left end of the cylinder I5 is vented through line [9, the space within the cylinder 25 between lands t9 and 5|, and valve outlet port 4| to return line 45. The piston in cylinder I5 and piston rod l6 are therepiston 95 of pump '1 within cylinder 9|.

fore simultaneously moved to the left to perform one stroke. 5 I By moving operating lever 6! inward, valve piston ll is moved to an alternate position wherein communication is established from chamber 29 through cylinder 25 to line l9 to supply pressure fluid to the left end of cylinder l5, as viewed in Fig. 1. The right end of the cylinder i5 is then vented through line 2!, the space within cylinder 25 between lands 15 and 5!, and valve outlet port 4! to return line 45. Communication from chamber 2'! is blocked by land 49. The piston in cylinder l5 and piston rod i5 are therefore moved to the right to perform a return stroke. Thus, by moving operating lever 61 in and out through one full stroke, the motor I is controlled to actuate the apparatus to which it is connected through one full cycle.

The motor 5 is also an expansible chamber fluid motor and comprises a cylinder 73 having end heads l5 and H and a piston 79, from which a piston rod 8| extends through end head Ti. End head '5 has a port 83 therein connected by a line 85 to line 2| for supplying pressure fluid to or venting it from the left end of cylinder l3. End head Tl'has a port 87 therein connected by a line 89 to line It for supplying pressure fluid to or venting it from the right end of cylinder 73. Thus, motors l and 5 are in effect connected in parallel so that when valve 3 is set to supply pressure fluid through line 2! and vent fluid through line [9, pressure fluid is delivered through line 85 and port 83 to the left end of cylinder 13 and vented through port 8'! and line 89. Conversely, when valve 3 is set to supply pressure fluid through line l9 and vent fluid through line 2|, pressure fluid is delivered through line 89 and port 87 to the right end of cylinder 13 and vented through port 83 and line 85. Thus, piston 19 of motor 5 follows the piston of motor I, making one full stroke each time the piston of motor I makes one full stroke.

A stroke-regulating screw 9!] is threaded centrally in the end head 15 of motor 5 for adjustably limiting the stroke of the piston 19. Movement of the piston away from the head 15 is limited by the head'll. Movement of the piston toward head 15 is limited by engagement of the piston with the end of the screw. By threading the screw in or out, the stroke of the piston may be shortened or lengthened.

The pump 7 is illustrated as an expansible chamber fluid pump and comprises a cylinder 9i closed at its left end by the end head 1"! of motor 5 and at its otherend by an end head 93. Piston rod 8| of motor 5 extends through end head 1! into cylinder 9| and is connected to a valved pump Lubricant is supplied to the left end of cylinder 9| from reservoir 9 through a lubricant supply line 9? connected to a lubricant inlet port 99 in end head 71. The pump piston has a passage it]! therethrough in which is a check valve 33 arranged to close upon movement of the piston to the right and to' open upon movement of the piston to the left, as viewed in Fig'. 1. The head 93 has a lubricant outlet port l05'con'nected by a line [5! to injector manifold H. In the outlet port I05 is a spring-biased check valve I08 arranged to check return 'flowfrom line llll back into the cylinder upon a return stroke of the pump piston, and to open against the bias of the valve spring when the pump piston is driven to the right as viewed in Fig. 1 through a pressure stroke. The check valve is shown in detail in Fig. 6. As illustrated, it

5. comprisesa ball biased by a; compression spring I.ll8a against avalveseat. Illfllrformedat theinner end of the outlet port (its, end toward the pump. cylinder). Thecompression: spring [08a reacts from the end of the line. I01, which is threaded in theouter end of the outletport.

An adjustablerelief valve, generally designated I99, is provided for venting the line I91 110 allow forresetting and reloading of the injectors I3. This; valve is, connected; in the system at a point between the. check valve. I98 and. the injector manifold II. As illustrated in detail in; Fig. 4, the. relief valve I99 comprises a valve body III having an. inlet II3 and an outlet. I I5. The inlet is in a fitting I I6 which is threaded into the lower end of; the valve-body and provides a valve seat. This inlet is: connected by a pipe I19 to a port III. in. end. head. 93 in communication with the lubricant outlet port I outward. of the valve seat Illfib (see Fig. 6). The outlet H5 is connected by a line I23 to lubricant reservoir .9. A valve, member I25 is biased. by a compression spring I21 toward the valve seat to close the inlet I13. When the lubricant pressure on the valve member becomes high enough to overcome the bias of spring I21, the valve member moves upward to permit lubricant to flow through the inlet past the valve member to the outlet and thence through line I23 to the reservoir 9. The valve member I25 is small enough, as indicated at I29, to provide an unobstructed passage for the lubricant.

Spring I21 is compressed between the valve member I25 and a sealed collar I3I which by means. of a tubular adjusting screw I33 is slidably adjustable within valve body III. fhe screw I33 is threaded into the upper end; of the valve body and backs up the collar. A tell-tale I35, comprising a rod pinned into the valve member and extending out of the valve body through. screw 133, is provided to indicate whether the relief valve is open or closed. The pressure. at which the. relief valve will open may be varied by turning adjusting screw I33 to vary the bias of spring I 21.

The above-described arrangement is. such that upon movement of the pump piston 95. to the left as viewed in Fig. 1 through a return stroke, check valve I98 is closed and check valve I33 opens and lubricant flows through passage I9I in the pump piston. from. the left side of. the piston to its right. side to charge the pump cylinder 9 I. Upon movement. of. the pump piston to. the right through a. pressure stroke, check valve 193 closes and check valve I118 opens and lubricant isforced out through pump outlet I05 and line I91 to injector manifold II'. Upon movement of the pump piston to the right through a pressure stroke, lubricant is also drawn into the pump cylinder behind the piston from reservoir 9 through line 91 and inlet port 99. Assuming that the pressure developed in line I01 and manifold II by this pressure stroke of the pump piston is insufiicient to actuate the injectors and open the relief valve I99, when the pump piston next moves to the left through a return stroke, the check valve I98 holds the pressure in line I01 and injector manifold I I.

Thelubricant injectors I3 are all alike and are all connected in communication with manifold II to receive lubricant therefrom. There are as many injectors as necessary for delivering lubricant to the different elements of the apparatus to be lubricated. Each injector is preferably of the type disclosed in the Klein U. S.

Patent 2,358,119 which. may be. consulted for further details. As. illustrated particularly in Fig. 5, each injector comprises a hollow cylindrical injector body I4I providing a lubricant measuring chamber I43.

The lower end. of the. body I41 has a stepped bore I45 separated from the measuring chamber by a wall having an aperture I41: therein. A piston valve I49 is slidable across radial ports I5I in a spider I53 mounted in bore I45. The piston valve extends through the aperture I41 intothe measuring chamber, where it is provided with a spring seat. I55. The piston valve has an axial bore I51 therein which is in communication. at its upper end with the measuring chamber. Ports. I59 in piston. valve I49 extend radially from the lower end of; bore. I51. The spider [53 is. positioned. between packing rings. IfiI. and. I63 for the piston valve, the packing ring and spider assembly being retained in position by a gland nut I65 threaded into the bore I45. The gland nut. has a passage- I61 constituting the inlet for the injector, and is threaded into the manifold. II.

A piston I99 is slidable in the measuring chamber I43. This piston is fixed upon the lower end of a tell-tale rod I'II which extends upward out of the injector body I4I through a packing I13. The latter is mounted in a fitting I15 threaded into the upper end of body I4I. A guide bushing I11 for the tell-tale rod I'II is threaded into the upper end of fitting I15. A spring I19 is compressed between the piston I69 and the spring seat I55 of the valve I49. An abutment I8I extending downward from the piston I69 and having cross passage I83 in its lower end is engageable with the upper end of the valve I49.

The injector body I41 is provided with a lubricant outlet I85 at the lower end of measuring chamber I43 and below piston I69. A line. I81 leading to an element of the apparatus tobe lubricated is connected into this outlet. The body MI is also formed with a by-pass, generally designated I89, which includes an annular chamber I9I surrounding the spider I53 and in com munication with the radial ports Hill in the spider. From annular chamber I'9I a passage I93 reaches to the upper end of the measuring chamber I43 behind the piston I69.

When pressure in the manifold II, acting through the injector inlet I61, becomes high enough to overcome the bias of spring I19, the valve I491 is driven upward across. radial ports I51 in spider I53. The pressure at which this occurs is: referred to as injector-cycling pressure. Lubricant is; forced through inlet I61, ports I5I, annular chamber I9I and passage 193 to the space in the measuring chamber I43 above injector piston I69. This drives piston I59 downward. Assuming that the measuring chamber has, been previously charged with lubricant during the previous cycle of operation, the charge of lubricant is forced out through the injector outlet I 85 and line 191 to the apparatus to be lubricated. At. the same time, the space in the measuring chamber above the piston I59 is filled with a charge of lubricant as. the piston moves downward. Spring I19 is compressed until abutment I 8| engages the upper end of valve I49. The area of piston I69 is greater than that of the lower end of valve I49 exposed to lubricant pressure in inlet I61. The pressure above the piston builds up until the force tending to move the valve downward is greater than the force tending to drive it upward, due to the differential piston and valve areas. The valve I49 is then driven partially downward until ports II are blocked from inlet I6! but not sufficiently to placeports I59 in the valve in communication with ports I5I. As soon as ports I5I are blocked from inlet I67, no pressure is available to drive the piston farther downward.

The relief valve I09 is set to open when the pressure in the manifold II slightly exceeds the injector-cycling pressure. Once the injectors have been operated upon the pressure reaching injector-cycling value, the pressure builds up to the point where valve I89 opens, whereupon the pressure in line It! and manifold II is relieved, lubricant bleeding through valve I09 back to the reservoir 9. This relieves the upward pressure on the lower end of the piston valve I59 and the spring I19 drives the valve farther downward to its Fig. 5 position. This cuts oif inlet Iial from ports IEI and places the radial ports I59 in the valve in communication with annular chamber I9I. Piston i fifi is then driven upward by spring I 'I9 and forces the lubricant above the piston through passage I93, annular chamber IHI, ports I59 and valve passage I 5'! into the measuring chamber I43 below the piston. The injector is thus reloaded with a measured charge of lubricant for the next cycle.

The operation of the lubricating system is as follows:

The relief valve I09 is set to open upon develop ment of pressure in line It? slightly exceeding injector-cycling pressure. screw 98 is set to limit the stroke of the motor piston '59 and the pump piston 9'5 to a distance such that a desired number of cycles of the pump piston are required to build up injector-cycling pressure in the line Iiil. Assume, for example, that the screw is set so that four cycles are necessary. It will be understood that the shorter the stroke, the more cycles will be necessary to develop injector-cycling pressure.

Fig. 1 illustrates the positions of the parts at about the completion of a forward stroke of pump piston 95. The operating lever 61 is in its outer position and valve 3 is set to supply pressure fluid through line 2I to the right end of cylinder I5 and to vent the left end of cylinder I5 through line I9. The piston in cylinder I5, piston rod I6 and clevis I! are retracted. Pressure fluid is supplied to the left end of cylinder l3 from line 2| through line 85 and port 83, and vented from the right end of cylinder I3 through port El and line 89 to line I9, The check valve 503 in the pump position is closed and the ump piston has delivered lubricant under pressure to the manifold iI through pump outlet Hi5 and line It], check valve Hi8 having been opened by the pressure developed by the pump piston. Also, lubricant has been drawn into the pump cylinder on the left side of the pump piston. Assuming that this forward or pressure stroke of the pump piston had resulted in development of su-fiicient pressure in line I 07 and manifold II to cycle the injectors and open relief valve E69, line Iii? will be bled, and the injectors will be set and loaded for the next injection.

When operating lever 61 is then moved inward, valve 3 is set to supply pressure fiuid through line I9 to the left end of cylinder I5 and to vent the right end of cylinder I5 through line 2i. This moves the piston in cylinder I5, piston rod I5 and clevis I'I forward (to the right) to actuate the apparatus controlled thereby through half a cycle. Pressure fluid is thereupon supplied from line Iii-through line 89 and port 81 to the right end of cylinder I3 and vented from its left end through port 83 and line 85'to line 2|. This drives piston I9, piston rod 8| and pump piston 85 to the left. Check valve I08 closes. Check valve I03 opens, and lubricant to the left of piston passes through passage IIlI to the right of piston 95 to reload the pump with lubricant.

When operating lever 61 is next moved outward to retract piston rod I6 and clevis I'I, thereby to actuate the apparatus controlled by the motor I through the return half of its cycle, all parts move to their Fig. 1 positions. The pump piston '95 makes a forward pumping stroke and check valve I08 opens and lubricant is forced through the pump outlet I65 to line It)? and manifold II. However, the stroke of the pump piston, and accordingly the volumetric displacement of the piston, is not great enough to build up injectorcycling pressure, but, with screw Gil set as mentioned above, is only great enough to build up about one-fourth injector-cycling pressure.

When the operating member 6'; is next moved inward to extend piston rod I6 and clevis H, the pump piston 95 makes a return stroke. As the pump piston travels through the return stroke, check valve I 98 is closed to hold the pressure previously built up in line I01 and manifold II upon the preceding pressure stroke of the piston.

When the operating member 67 is next moved outward to retract piston rod I6 and clevis H, the pump piston 95 is driven through another pressure stroke and more pressure is built up in line It? and manifold II to about one-half injector-cycling pressure.

Upon such actuation of lever 61 as to effect a third reaction of the pump piston 95, then a third pressure stroke, then a fourth retraction, and finally a fourth pressure stroke of the pump piston, during the fourth pressure stroke, the pressure in line Ill! and manifold II is finally built up to injector-cycling value. This causes the injectors It to deliver their charges of lubricant through the respective lines IS'I to the elements of the apparatus to be lubricated. Immediately following this action of the injectors, pressure rises to such value as to open relief valve I09, whereupon line Ifll and manifold I I are vented back to the reservoir 9. The injectors then reset and reload for the next injection.

Then, upon the operation of the motor I through the next four complete cycles of its operation, the injectors are again actuated to inject lubricant, and then to reset and reload, and so on.

It will be understood that by changing the setting of screw 90, the number of cycles of the pump piston 95 to effect one cycling of the injectors may be changed. The specific mention above of four cycles of the pump piston for one cycling of the injectors is only exemplary.

Thus, the lubricating system of this invention functions to deliver measured charges of lubricant to the hearings or other elements of the apparatus to be lubricated upon the completion of a predetermined desired number of cycles of operation of the apparatus. By fully retracting the screw 90, the system could be set to cause operation of the injectors upon each cycle of operation of the apparatus, or, by suitable adjustment of the screw, to cause operation of the injectors upon every second or every third or every fourth, etc., cycle of the apparatus. The lubricating system of this invention is particularly adapted for use with apparatus utilizing a hydraulic pressure system for actuating various parts of the apparatus since it may be directly connected into the hydraulic pressure system to be operated thereby. Thus, it does not require any source of power other .than that on the apparatus for operating its parts, and eliminates any necessity for making connections by means of air lines, electrical cables or the like from the apparatus to a remote power source.

The term motor is employed herein generically to designate any suitablesource of mechanical power for imparting the desired motions.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

.As many changes could be :made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A lubricating system for apparatus which is operable in cycles, comprising reciprocating means for actuating the apparatus through a cycle, a reciprocating lubricant pump, means op erable in response to each operation of the apparatus through one cycle for reciprocating the pump through one cycle, means for adjustably limiting the stroke of the pump, a lubricant injector having an inlet in communication with the outlet of the pump and an outlet through which a charge of lubricant may be fed to the apparatus, said injector including means for feeding a charge of lubricant through its outlet to said apparatus upon being supplied with lubricant at a predetermined pressure, and to reset and reload with another charge of lubricant upon relief of pressure, a check valve arranged to check flow of lubricant from the injector back to the pump upon return strokes of the pump and adapted to open upon pressure strokes of the pump, and means for relieving pressure at a point between the check valve and the injector subsequent to actuation of the injector.

2. A lubricating system for apparatus which is operable in cycles, comprising a reciprocating fluid motor for actuating the apparatus through a cycle, a reciprocating lubricant pump, means operable in response to reciprocation of said motor through one cycle for reciprocating the pump through one cycle, means for adjustably limiting the stroke of the pump, a lubricant injector having an inlet in communication with the outlet of the pump and an outlet through which a charge of lubricant may be fed to the apparatus, said injector including means for feeding a charge of lubricant through its outlet to said apparatus upon being supplied with lubricant at a predetermined pressure, and to reset and reload with another charge of lubricant upon relief of pressure, a check valve arranged to check flow of lubricant from the injector back to the pump upon return strokes of the pump and adapted to open upon pressure strokes of the pump, and means for relieving pressure at a point between the check valve and the injector subsequent to actuation of the injector.

3. A lubricating system for apparatus which is operable in cycles, comprising a motor for actuating the apparatus through a cycle, a reciprocating lubricant pump, a follow-up motor operable in response to actuation of said apparatus through one cycle for reciprocating the pump through one cycle, means for adjustably limiting the stroke of the pump, a lubricant injector having an inlet in communication with the outlet of 10 the pump and an outlet through which a charge of lubricant may be fed to the apparatus, said injector including means for feeding a charge of lubricant through its outlet to said apparatus upon being supplied with lubricant at a predetermined pressure, and to reset and reload with another charge of lubricant upon relief of pressure, a check valve arranged to check flow of lubricant from the injector :back to the pump upon return strokes of the pump andadapted to open upon pressure strokes of the pump, .and means for relieving pressure at a point between the check valve and the injector subsequent to actuation of the injector.

4. A lubricating system for apparatus which is operable in cycles, comprising a pair of reciprocating fluid motors connected in parallel in a fluid circuit under control of a valve, whereby both motors may be reciprocated simultaneously through single cycles, one of said motors: being adapted to actuate the apparatus, the other being coupled to a reciprocating lubricant pump for actuating the pump through a cycle wherein it makes a pressure stroke and a return stroke, a lubricant injector having an inlet in communication with the outlet of the pump and an outlet through which a charge of lubricant may be delivered to said apparatus, means for adjustably limiting the stroke of the said other motor and the pump, a check valve arranged to check flow of lubricant from the injector back to the: pump upon return strokes of the pump and adapted to open upon pressure strokes of the pump, and means for relieving pressure at a point between the check valve and the injector subsequent to actuation of the injector.

5. A lubricating system comprising a lubricant injector for intermittently feeding charges of lubricant to an apparatus to be lubricated, a lubricant pump comprising a cylinder having a pump piston reciprocable therein for intermittently feeding lubricant to the injector, a fluid motor comprising a cylinder having a piston reciprocable therein coupled to the pump piston for reciprocating it, another fluid motor comprising a cylinder having a piston therein adapted to be coupled to said apparatus for operating it in cycles, a pressure fluid circuit including fluid connections to opposite ends of both motor cylinders, a control valve in said circuit having a first position wherein pressure fluid is supplied to one end of each of the motor cylinders and vented from their other ends, and a second position wherein pressure fluid is vented from said one end of each of the motor cylinders and supplied to their other ends, means for adjustably limiting the stroke of the first-mentioned motor piston and pump piston, a check valve arranged to check flow of lubricant from the injector back to the pump upon return strokes of the pump piston and adapted to open upon pressure strokes of the pump piston, and a relief valve for relieving pressure at a point between the check valve and the injector subsequent to actuation of the injector.

6. In a lubricating system, a reciprocating lubricant pump comprising a pump cylinder and a pump piston reciprocable in the cylinder, the pump cylinder having an inlet and an outlet, a lubricant reservoir in communication with the pump inlet, a lubricant injector connected by a lubricant line to the pump outlet, the injector being of a type adapted to feed a measured charge of lubricant upon being supplied with lubricant under a predetermined injector-.-

1 i cycling pressure through said lubricant lineand to reload from the line upon relief of pressure in said line, a reciprocating fluid motor comprising a motor cylinder and a motor piston reciprocable in said cylinder, a piston rod connecting the motor and pump pistons, an adjustable stop for adjustably limiting the stroke of the motor and pump pistons, a check valve between the pump outlet and injector arranged to check flow of lubricant from the injector back to the pump 10 12 tween the check valve and injector andadapted to open upon development in said line of pressure somewhat higher than the injector-cycling pressure required to actuate the injector.

LUTWIN C. ROTTER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 298,836 Dearing Dec. 20, 1938 2,141,022 Rotter Dec. 20, 1938

Images